Lizzies Chicken Cutlets Food

LIZZIE'S CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• For the chicken: Put the hen, breast side down, in an 8-quart stockpot and add water to within 2-inches of the top of the pot; this will vary according to the size of your pot, but the hen should float clear of the bottom of the pot and be covered completely. Add the salt and pepper. Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 2 hours, or until the chicken is tender and the drumstick joint twists easily. Allow the chicken and broth to cool slightly, and then remove the hen to a colander.
• Strain the broth into a very large bowl. Cover the broth and place in in the refrigerator. When the fat solidifies on the top of the broth, remove and discard it. Remove the chicken from the bones and cut or shred the meat by hand into small pieces. Set aside 2 cups of the broth and refrigerate or freeze the rest for another use. (Leftover broth may also be frozen in individual containers to be used another time.)
• For the dumplings: Heat 2 quarts of the defatted chicken broth in a 3-quart saucepan. While it heats, put the flour in a medium bowl. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 3/4 cup water and stir the mixture into the flour to make a stiff dough. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured surface and knead until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Heavily flour a rolling pin and roll out the dough very thin (you can also divide the dough into 4 portions and roll each portion separately, which will give you thinner dumplings). With a very sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 2 by 4-inch strips.
• When the broth reaches a rolling boil, add some of the strips of dough. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot and bring back to a boil. Continue to add the dough strips in batches, always raising the heat to bring the broth back to a rolling boil before dropping in more dough strips and reducing the heat to simmer before covering the pot again. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper to taste. Add the 2 cups of cooked chicken, heat and serve.

MOM'S SUPER THIN AND CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLETS

Steps:

• Beat the eggs and 1 tablespoon water in a shallow bowl. Set aside until ready to fry.
• In a food processor, pulse the breadcrumbs with the parsley, pecorino, granulated garlic and salt until just incorporated. Transfer the breadcrumbs to a shallow dish.
• Cut the chicken breasts in half crosswise. On a sturdy cutting board, place a piece of chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using a mallet or other blunt object, pound the chicken into a flat piece about 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thick. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Heat 1 cup olive oil to 350 degrees F in a 14-inch cast-iron pan with the garlic cloves. Line a sheet tray with a wire rack.
• Working in an assembly line, dredge the cutlets in the egg and then the breading. Double-bread by going back to the egg wash and back into the breading. Add the first piece of breaded chicken to the preheated oil along with 1/2 stick butter. Once the butter is mostly melted, add another piece of chicken. Fry until an internal temperature of 160 degrees F is reached, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Add more oil and butter to the pan as needed while you fry the rest of your batches, allowing the oil to come back to heat between batches. Rest on the wire rack.
• Meanwhile, preheat a 10-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until hot, then place the lemon halves, cut-side down, directly in the pan and allow to caramelize, 1 to 2 minutes. Reserve for garnish.
• Place the chicken cutlets on a large platter and garnish with freshly grated pecorino, parsley leaves and caramelized lemon halves.

CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Pound each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap to an even 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle each with some thyme and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Put the breadcrumbs, flour and eggs in 3 separate shallow dishes. Coat each piece of chicken first in the flour, shaking off any excess, and then dip into the egg and finally transfer to the breadcrumbs, pressing to coat well. Set the pieces aside on a plate.
• Working in batches, heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add one piece of chicken and cook until browned and crispy, flipping once, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining oil and chicken. Transfer the chicken to the oven and bake until hot and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and serve with lemon wedges.